admin The Minister of Home Affairs, Vuyisoa Tseka says sixteen officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs have been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for passport issuance.
During a press briefing held in Maseru yesterday, the minister announced that ten of the accused have already been sentenced, while the remaining six are still awaiting trial.
Ms Tseka noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs has long been among the government departments most affected by corruption and said in response to the growing problem, the ministry has deployed officials from the National Security Service and police officers to every Home Affairs compound in an effort to curb the surge in corrupt practices.
According to the minister, one of the main factors driving corruption at the facilities is the high number of temporary employees. She explained that many of these workers are hired on a contract basis and live with the constant fear of losing their jobs, which makes them vulnerable to bribe temptations.
Meanwhile, the ministry has said it is reviewing its staffing policies and tightening oversight measures as part of broader efforts to restore integrity in service delivery.
